EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN COSTA-RICA - IMPORTANCE OF DOMESTIC RODENTS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (1) , 113-124
Abstract
A positive dye test for Toxoplasma antibodies was observed in 5% of 100 mice (Mus musculus) and 30.4% of 23 rats (Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus). The parasite was isolated from 2 mice. The animals were captured in several urban localities in the metropolitan area of San Jose, Costa Rica. The number of positive animals found appears enough to infect cats, whose principal source of infections are the Toxoplasma cysts in the rodents. It is apparent that domestic mice and rats, besides the felines, play an important role in the epidemiology of [human] toxoplasmosis in Costa Rica. The presence of Eimeria falciformis, a common coccidian in domestic mice, did not inhibit the Toxoplasma infections in these rodents.

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